As a parent I am always looking for ways to entertain my children in the summer months. The long break from school leaves many opportunities for “I’m bored” and “There is noooooothing to do.” You can only send them to the neighbor’s house so many times before she catches on and starts sending her kids to your house.

Thankfully this year I had one week where I didn’t have to fight the summertime boredom. The boys were able to attend the UMNH “DNA Crime Solvers” science camp.

From a parent’s perspective, it was worth the daily commute up to UMNH because they got in the car each day and were able to tell me about the amazing things they did like lift fingerprints and analyze DNA. The boys got to delve into the wild wonderful world of being a CSI, and I was a little jealous.

Enough of what I thought. Everyone wants to know what the true critics thought.

Josh, 9th Grade (age 14)

“I had  tons of fun at the summer camp I attended for a week this year.   It was nice to have a leader who seemed to really know what she was talking about and doing.

The first day we introduced ourselves to our new friends.  There were only a few of us there so we got to know each other well. We were able to jump right into activities. On this day’s activity we were able to simulate blood splatter with paint.  And we splattered it everywhere.

On the second day we learned about DNA. The best part was being able to learn how to take DNA samples.  We actually got to take our own DNA swab and put it in a test tube.

The third day we spent preparing the DNA samples to be analyzed. We added some chemicals to separate the DNA from whatever else was in your sample and shook it up.

I couldn’t believe the fourth day.  We actually got to go to a crime lab.  A real crime lab.  We got to watch as real CSI’s showed us how to take finger prints and DNA swabs.  It was great to learn even more about DNA!

On the  last day we had to put all of our new skills to the test.  We had to solve a crime.  Solve everything.  We had to take  measurements and run tests to see if the substance was blood, or maybe it was jam.  If you go next year maybe you can find out.

The camp was a great way to spend a week of my summer break.  It was fun and educational!”

Xander, 8th Grade (age 13)

“The Crime Scene Investigation at The Utah Museum of Natural History was great!  I didn’t know what to expect but I am happy to report I loved it.

The first day was my FAVORITE.  First we all introduced ourselves and I made some new friends.  The leader outlined what we were going to do at camp.  We were going to do more than I even imagined. The we started to investigate the different kinds of blood splatter.  Don’t worry though, it wasn’t real blood, we used paint. WE MADE A HUGE MESS, and cleaned it up.  My Mom would be surprised to hear that my brother and I cleaned up.

The other day that I would also consider a favorite was the last day.  That is the day when we figured out a crime scene. There was blood (not real) all over and tons of items scattered everywhere.  We had to put to use what we had learned all week and figured out how this crime took place.  This is when I started to feel like a real CSI.   We didn’t solve the crime this time.  But I think if I go back next year I can figure it out.”

Have you checked out and of the UMNH Spring and Summer Camps for your kids?

This summer my oldest two were able to enroll in a couple of the Utah Museum of Natural History’s summer camps for kids. With all the fun options (over 40 for kids ages kindergarten to middle school), it was hard narrowing it down. I could have easily signed them up for every one!

We finally chose Science & Art for Girls Only for Lauren (age 10) and then Ecological Investigations and Solve It Central for Madison (age 12). The Art & Science for Girls camp is an all-day camp while the Ecological Explorations and Solve It are half-day camps, so it worked out perfectly!

George was involved in one of UMNH’s spring camps and had a fabulous experience so I knew the girls were in for a real treat! The only thing I wasn’t looking forward to was the drive; fortunately my husband works in Research Park so he took them in the morning and I picked them up in the afternoon. Only one round-trip drive to the U made it even better!

Every day the girls came home with a list of cool thing they learned that day, though I will say after a week of all-day science camp, they were exhausted! But in the best kind of way. If Nathan is still working near the UMNH or I have someone to carpool with next year, I’m definitely going to check out the summer camps again.

Of course, don’t take my word for it. I had Madison and Lauren write a little something about their experience at the Utah Museum of Natural History’s summer camps. They even snapped a few photos for you! (Unfortunately Lauren’s photos are MIA. If/when we find them we’ll add them!)

Madison, age 12 (almost 13)
Ecological Investigations & Solve It Central summer camps

“I had a great time at the summer camp. My first half of the day was Ecological Investigations. We went on hikes, identifying animal tracks, and went to the museum’s herbarium. It was so cool! I loved our hikes and our teacher was fun.

The second half was Solve It where we dusted for fingerprints, had our very own crime scene, went to the crime lab where we met one of the people who worked there and she showed us how they dust for fingerprints and other cool things, and we learned how to tell which direction a blood spatter came from. I had fun and I really wish I could go next year, but I will be too old. Darn it! Oh well, I can still go to the museum!”

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Lauren, age 10
Science & Art for Girls Only summer camp

“It was awesome at summer camp. My first half of the day was SCIENCE!!!!!! I love science.

SCIENCE

The first day we went to the Sound Stadium it was really cool and we got to play a gigantic organ!!!!!!!, the next day a nice lady told us about bugs and I knew a lot about them because I read a lot of books about bugs but she told me a lot of stuff I didn’t know, next we DISSECTED OWL PELLETS!!!!!!! It was soooo fun I found I think three legs, a couple back bones, lots and lots of ribs , a skull and some bones that were broken, the last day I was there we learned a lot about engineers and make up for the make up we learned how to make bath fizzies and lib stick that was flavored ( mine was lemon flavored). (P.S. this was just the science part.)

ART AT BAD DOG STUDIOS

I love doing art so the second half of the day was awesome!!!!!!!!!!

The first day we did abstract art but because of my love for animals I made a bird and a bird nest in the cavity of a tree and the teacher because she is soooo nice I just had to add a couple of things on and then we spray painted it gold!!!!! The next day we did self portraits and I did my head on a dragon body with my cannibal catfish at my tail and a piano and a viola were on my body and it was raining and I had a paint in the sky. The next day we did horse sculptures made out of wire. My house is standing on its hind legs. My last day we drew and painted flowers. That’s my review, bye!”

Though the summer’s over and you’ve missed out on seriously enriching your children’s lives, mark your calendar now for UMNH’s spring and summer camps in 2011. They fill up quickly and you won’t want to miss out!

Okay, so the kids didn’t really get to play with the penguins or the piranhas (that’s a given!) but they did get to play with a few stingrays and sea urchins.

Before heading over to the luminescent jellies and local octopus, our kids were able to learn more about Utah’s endangered species, wetlands and our state’s important waterways. One of George’s favorite things to do is hop on the boat and take a simulated boat ride (life jacket not required).

After doing the local thing, which doesn’t take long because the kids are anxious to catch sight of the resident octopus and poisonous toads, we find ourselves staring transfixed at the jellyfish who change from neon blue to pink to who knows how many other colors. I could sit there for hours but my kids always have other plans…

From there we make our way to the stingray exhibit, arms outstretched to catch a touch of those silky smooth backs.

I have yet to touch one but my kids have been successful! And while the Sassies were there, Michelle’s little guy was a stingray magnet—those rays hovered, slapped and said hello to him multiple times! Me? I was too busy trying to get Livi’s arm to do the Plastic Man thing and stretch another foot as the rays went by.

Next to the rays is a fun hands-on exhibit with different open cases full of little creatures like non-poke-your-eye-out sea urchins. Wash your hands and you’re off to a little coral reef play area perfect for the little ones. Of course I prefer bypassing that for the large shark tank complete with nurse sharks and sea turtles. Love those sea turtles!

The last of the favorites are found in the rainforest section. George loves looking for the poisonous toads…

…and I love staring at fish larger than Livi. It’s almost unbelievable how big those fish can get! Not far down the path I can hear my girls giggling away and I know they’ve found the electric eel exhibit. Outside the case is a display where you can place your fingers and feel just how shocking those eels can be. It’s a hoot!

The penguin exhibit is awesome—another display where I could sit for hours watching those creatures swim and dive.

Of course my kids are always on the move, and this time we found ourselves enjoying the rainforest presentation. We had never attended one of the Aquarium’s presentations so this was a real treat! We shivered at the scorpions and giant cockroaches, got a little squeamish when the boa came around, and then oohed and aahed over the rainforest birds. Those feathered friends are quite talented!

Though the Living Planet Aquarium isn’t much to look at from the outside, you can find some real treats indoors. Oh, and their cafe is reasonably priced, which I love. It’s a great little family field trip if you need to escape the hot August sun or the frigid January snowfall.

It’s GIVEAWAY time!

Four (4) lucky SassyScoops.com readers are going to win a family 6-pack of passes to The Living Planet Aquarium!

It is easy to enter. Just leave a comment telling us your favorite water-loving creature.

But that’s not all…

You can earn EXTRA entries:

1 entry ~ “Like” The Living Planet Aquarium on Facebook

1 entry ~ Follow The Living Planet Aquarium on Twitter

2 entries ~ Tweet about this giveaway and include a link to your tweet in the comments.

2 entries ~ Facebook about this giveaway and include a link to your update in comments.

5 entries ~ Blog about this giveaway and include a link to your post in comments.

Good luck! This giveaway will end on Friday, September 3rdth at midnight!

P.S. All SassyScoops giveaway winners are notified via direct email.

So what did the Sassies and our guest Sassy Jen think of The Living Planet Aquarium? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Emily: It’s proof of the saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” You would never think a fabulous little aquarium existed inside such a plain, unimpressive building. I remember when it was a craft store!
Evonne: Savannah is going to love this. Add this to our list of fun stuff to do in our area.
Jen: It’s a clean, well taken care of establishment.
Michelle: The parking lot was really busy so it must be a hopping spot. I thought it was fun that they have a giant “Bruce” (the shark from Finding Nemo) replica hanging above the gift shop.
Quinn: We LOVE the Aquarium, ever since our first visit over a year ago, we’ve just fallen in love with the quiet, peaceful atmosphere, along with all the fun animals to see and learn about.
Vanessa: The outside of the building does not match an aqarium but I am quite ruined after growing up right by the National Aquarium. The front room where you check in needs a lot of work; I hope someday they can move to a beautiful new building where they can design everything to a T.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I love the shark tank and the hands-on exhibits (the rays and the little ocean critters). I also love that the cafe is affordable—no $7 skimpy burgers or overpriced goodies. That’s a nice change! Oh, and the presentation was really fun too, though I don’t need to see a scorpion up close again. Once was enough.
Evonne: Savannah liked the hands on stuff, even though she cried when she actually did make contact.
Jen: Hands on activities like petting the sting rays and the presentations.
Michelle: My little guy’s favorite part is the hands-on area where you can touch the rays and starfish. He also really likes the giant coral that you can climb through and hide in. My favorites are the jellyfish and the rain forest displays.
Quinn: The Amazon and penguin exhibits are amazing!  I loved how the penguin exhibit was built so brilliantly to make it easy to watch the penguins jumping into and swimming through the water.  We had a great time in the class, too.  My kids are still talking about the parrots and being able to touch the boa constrictor and cockroach.
Vanessa: The penguins, the Amazon exhibit. I feel like the exhibits in the new addition (the Amazon) are very hands-on, educational, fun, bright, colorful and designed and put together very well.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I love that the Aquarium has a section on Utah-specific creatures and info, even if it’s not quite as exciting as iridescent jellyfish and sharks!
Evonne: I wish that there wasn’t construction right in front of the location. Boooo!
Jen: There’s not much to dislike, except for the very faint smell of ‘damp’ and that the building is surrounded by construction.
Michelle: All the road construction made it somewhat difficult to get there.
Quinn: Since I was bench-hopping this time (due to being heavy with child), I really noticed that some areas could use a bench (i.e. the penguin exhibit).
Vanessa: The Utah exhibit; I swear that thing just needs to GO as a whole.
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QUESTION

Would you refer The Living Planet Aquarium to a friend?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Totally! It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and kids of all ages love to go.
Evonne: Yes, I would not only refer a friend, I would take a friend with us.
Jen: Yes, to a friend with older toddlers and kids rather than small babies.
Michelle: Yes, I think it is a great indoor activity to beat the heat or get out of the rain or snow. I would like to check out their daily story time.
Quinn: Yes, I already have.  I think the year passes are a really good deal, though a big reason why I think this is how close the Aquarium is to our home.  If it wasn’t so close, we definitely wouldn’t be going as frequently.
Vanessa: Ok, here is my deal. I feel like this is something that is going to grow and we need to give it some local love while it gets there. I believe it is worth your money IF you make sure and time it right so you attend the free 30-minute exotic animal show. Then I would say yes, but without that…no. Not yet. But they will get there; until then we will still show them some support and love!
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Want to see some sharks, sea turtles and colorful jellyfish or touch a stingray? Visit Utah’s Living Planet Aquarium (@TLP2004) today!
Evonne: Do you wanna do something fun, and not be stuck in the heat? Visit @TLP2004
Jen: have you ever pet a stingray before? you can at the living planet aquarium in sandy, so awesome!
Michelle: Enjoy the sea life at Living Planet Aquarium where you can touch a ray & feel the shock of an eel.
Quinn: We LOVE the Living Planet Aquarium in #utah! If you haven’t been, you MUST go see all the fabulous animals, like the sharks, anaconda, octopus, sting rays, penguins and MUCH, MUCH more!
Vanessa: {coming soon}

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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for The Living Planet Aquarium.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on The Living Planet Aquarium! You’ll catch our kids and those stingrays in action! We’ll have a super tasty GIVEAWAY for our readers too!

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Here’s the scoop on our guest Sassy. We’d consider it a real treat if you’d visit her super sweet blog!
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Jen
hello, hello. baking. my love. seasonal. crafting. peek-a-boo. autumn. singing. toesies. quilts. local. sundays. a good book. sweet baby jane. storms. cuddles. walks. textiles. homemade. eskimo kisses. forever families. Learn more about Jen here: http://delighfuldelicacieshello.blogspot.com/. Even better, read her tempting blog posts here: http://delighfuldelicacies.blogspot.com/.
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Disclaimer: The Sassies were invited to visit The Living Planet Aquarium and received admission for their families in exchange for this feature.

Have you been to The Living Planet Aquarium yet?  The Sassies recently had the opportunity to experience all the fun and education available at The Living Planet Aquarium rand we’re thrilled to chat all about it this week!

Here’s a glimpse of The Living Planet Aquarium’s exhibits:

There are so many incredible animals to see.  From the penguins…

…to all the beautiful varieties of fish (including fish native to Utah), there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Living Planet Aquarium has over 1,250 animals and 267 species on display in their three main exhibits: Discover Utah, Ocean Explorer and Journey to South America.

Discover Utah houses some of Utah’s threatened and endangered species such as June suckers, least chub, Columbia spotted frogs and Boreal toads. Interactive exhibits include a simulated boat ride across the Great Salt Lake where you will learn about the life cycle of brine shrimp and brine flies, how the lake impacts the economy, why birds migrate to the lake and how the lakes’ ecosystem affects our planet. Families can learn all about the importance of preserving and protecting Utah’s waterways as they explore and experience this exhibit.

Ocean Explorer features saltwater species from all over the world. You’ll find sea jellies, eels, seahorses and 6 different species of sharks. Learn about why coral reefs are so important to our planet and find out the importance of invertebrates at the Bio-Facts Station. Interactive exhibits include the stingray touch tank and the coral community where the younger children can “swim” around through this magical coral reef, imagining what it would be like to be a fish at the bottom of the ocean.

Journey to South America takes you through the rainforests of South America, where you will encounter 10-foot anacondas, piranha, caiman alligators, desert insects, tree boas, electric eels, tree frogs and Amazon giants. The exhibit will also educate guests about the biodiversity of rainforest ecosystems, the benefits rainforests provide us and how we all can help protect these amazing habitats!

So what did the Sassies think about their time at The Living Planet Aquarium?  Better yet, what did their KIDS think of the Aquarium?  Stay tuned this week for our review on Wednesday and an AWESOME giveaway on Friday!

P.S. Only a few more weeks to meet our Facebook contest goal for 2000 people to “like” SassyScoops!  Help us spread the word on Facebook by inviting your friends and family to “like” SassyScoops, showing their support for local business!

Are you ready for some serious Salt Lake City fun? How about 13 attractions for one super, duper awesome price? This week Vanessa, Quinn and I are talking about the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass and all the great things you can do/see/experience with it.

They have a great promotion going on right now!

Buy a 2-day pass, get a 3rd day for FREE!*

*Free day in the form of a 3-day Connect Pass for the same price of a 2-day connect pass. Offer valid through July 19, 2010.
Promotional passes can be used throughout the 2010 calendar year.
Once activated they are valid for 3 consecutive days.

You can read Vanessa’s post for details on the pass and pics of her girls enjoying Red Butte Gardens, Hogle Zoo and the Utah Museum of Natural History.

As for me and my family, so far we’ve hit up 3 of the 13 attractions: Discovery Gateway, a hands-on science museum for kids; Thanksgiving Point’s Museum of Ancient Life; and the always beautiful Thanksgiving Point Children’s Discovery Garden.

My kids LOVE Discovery Gateway. In fact, my two little ones continually ask if we can go to “the Gates” so they can hang out in the helicopter…

Play with the crazy ball-and-pipe system…

Or build super cool things out of magnets…

Even my older two love going there. You can see them enjoying the newsroom studio, rock wall and even the gift shop in the slideshow below:

As for the Museum of Ancient Life, who doesn’t love a few ginormous (aquatic) dinosaurs…

And a shark that makes the star of Jaws look like a guppy…

Oh, and endless riverways filled with sand, flowing water, palm trees and dinosaurs…

The Museum of Ancient Life has a yummy little cafe (though the grilled cheese left something to be desired) and lots of hands-on fun. Anyone want to dig for fossils?

Are you ready for the fun that is Thanksgiving Point’s Children’s Discovery Garden? Even in the almost 90-degree weather, we had a fabulous time splashing in the water…

Playing peek-a-boo in the lighthouse…

And making our way through the topiary maze…

And having a screaming-good time in the tunnels…

Who knew you could have this much fun in a garden? (I sure don’t have this much fun in ours!)

And how do I know it was a successful visit? Because this happened no later than five minutes into the drive home:

Why are you still sitting there reading this post? Get your Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass and get visiting! No better way to spend the summer than attraction-hopping through Salt Lake!

Don’t forget about their current special, which would be perfect for spending a weekend in Salt Lake City with out-of-town guests OR as a “staycation” for you!

Buy a 2-day pass, get a 3rd day for FREE!*
*Free day in the form of a 3-day Connect Pass for the same price of a 2-day connect pass. Offer valid through July 19, 2010.
Promotional passes can be used throughout the 2010 calendar year.
Once activated they are valid for 3 consecutive days.

This week three of the Sassies are going to feature the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass, which can be used by those of you already living in Utah OR by families who like to visit Utah for vacation!

What is the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass?

It is a “pass” that offers admission to 13 Salt Lake City attractions: Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway, The Lion House Pantry Restaurant, The Living Planet Aquarium, Red Butte Garden, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Thanksgiving Point, This Is The Place Heritage Park, Tracy Aviary, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Utah Museum of Natural History, Utah Olympic Park and Utah’s Hogle Zoo. You can see exactly what you get with the pass on this page. For most of the places your VSL pass allows you free entrance into the attraction, and using the pass ends up saving you TONS of money while taking you on a great tour of the best places in Salt Lake City.

What different Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass options are there for visitors?

We recommend the 1-day ($24 for an adult), 2-day ($36 for an adult) or 3-day ($48 for an adult) for friends and family who visit Utah depending on the length of their stay.
Right now they have a great SPECIAL for this pass:

Buy a 2-day pass, get a 3rd day FREE!*

* Free day in the form of a 3-day Connect Pass for the same price of a 2-day connect pass. Offer valid through July 19, 2010. Promotional passes can be used throughout the 2010 calendar year.
Once activated they are valid for 3 consecutive days.

It gives visitors a great tour of Salt Lake City and takes them to the perfect places to visit while here in the area. Plus, it’s also a great way for locals to have a less expensive “staycation” this summer!

What option do they have for us local Utahns?

This is the pass that my family, extended family in Utah, friends and neighbors use: the 365 Day Pass. The cost is $69 (for an adult) and you can visit the 13 attractions listed above during the course of a year, which works perfectly for us because we usually plan fun outings once a month. We love going with  other people we know who have this pass and enjoy trying something new in Salt Lake City! If I were to visit all the attractions and pay the regular price, it would cost me over $120! With the 365 Day Pass, I save 50%, which is HUGE!

Here are some of my family’s favorite attractions included in the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass:

Red Butte Gardens: I can’t believe it took us so long to make it out to this Salt Lake City attraction but we just loved it! My kids learned so much about all the different plants, and the trails in the gardens are beautiful and shaded for hot summer weather. They have many places to sit; you can have a picnic or sit at a table for lunch. The children’s gardens are very fun and interactive, and that part of the gardens alone could have filled  our day. Check out our fun video of our favorite parts of Red Butte Gardens:

Utah’s Hogle Zoo: Here we love the giraffe house. You can go up to the second level so you are VERY close to the beautiful animals! We love going up there and watching them eat and come in and out of their houses.

Utah Museum of Natural History: Boy, do we adore this place! It is definitely a place where it is not only entertaining but educational as well. We really do have such a blast at the museum with my girls. They spend a crazy amount of time studying all of the minerals, fossils, artifacts and dinosaurs!

We’ve loved being Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass owners this year and have had a blast around Salt Lake City!

Don’t forget about their current special, which would be perfect for a weekend in Salt Lake City for family coming to visit OR a “staycation” for you!

Buy a 2-day pass, get a 3rd day for FREE!*
*Free day in the form of a 3-day Connect Pass for the same price of a 2-day connect pass. Offer valid through July 19, 2010. Promotional passes can be used throughout the 2010 calendar year.
Once activated they are valid for 3 consecutive days.

It’s the summer and the kids are out of school—and you’re out of ideas to entertain them (and they may or may not be driving you crazy already). Never fear! The Utah Museum of Natural History is here! We are quickly learning in our house that UMNH is the go-to place when we are wanting to have lots of fun and sneak in some education too.

Of course the Utah Museum of Natural History didn’t disappoint this spring, and now they are offering a fantastic opportunity for kids to enjoy the museum while participating in their summer camps. I know what you’re thinking: “How do I know how good the summer camps are?” Um, because my daughter has not stopped talking about how seeds become fruit, and what plants need to grow and on and on and on since she attended the Budding Botanist class. She had fun while learning, and who wouldn’t want that for her child during the summer!? Even though Savannah hadn’t shown any prior interest to the class we chose, once she learned about it all, she became obsessed.

With so many different classes to choose from there is definitely something for every young one. They even have classes geared toward 9th graders. Savannah is already looking at the other classes she wants to attend, and this will be something we will incorporate into every summer from here on out.

Be sure to “Like” them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/utahmuseumofnaturalhistory

And follow them on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/umnh

The Utah Museum of Natural History Summer Camp Sassy Scoops Promotion!

Get $25 off your first two UMNH Summer Camps this summer! When registering for camp at http://www.umnh.utah.edu/summer enter “SASSY” in the promotional code box.

Terms & Conditions

• Discount available on new registrations only.
• Discount cannot be combined with other offers.
• Discount available on non-member price only. UMNH Members are welcome to take advantage of the offer, but the discount is available on regular price only, representing a net $5 discount for UMNH members using the SassyScoops promotional offer.
• Discount available on camps with open registration. Cannot be applied to a new or existing wait-list reservation.
• Limit two discounts per paying adult. Can be used on two camps for one child or one camp each for two children.
• Offer valid on registrations made by July 9, 2010.

So what did a few of the Sassies’ kids think of the spring science camps from the Utah Museum of Natural History? Read on to find out!

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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP

Emily & George: Emily: When I walked into the room the kids were having a wonderful time and the counselors seemed to be having just as much fun!
Evonne & Savannah: Savannah: I thought it was going to be good.
Quinn & Tate: Quinn: Emily took our boys with her so I never got to see it and so sadly I don’t have an answer for this question.
Vanessa & Abby: Vanessa: The staff is just so friendly, helpful, personable. They really are superb. We like to go many places as a family for fun and UMNH by has the best customer service by FAR. Also, because my girls love it so much they could not wait to “have school” there and learn about plants.

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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Emily & George: Emily: I love that the kids can get their hands dirty (or sudsy in George’s case) and learn super cool science things. George was seriously having the best time and didn’t want to leave.
Evonne & Savannah: Savannah: Loved searching and looking at flowers.
Quinn & Tate: Quinn: My son LOVED all of the water activities and learning. He had an absolute blast and when he’s happy, I’m happy!
Vanessa & Abby: Vanessa: How my daughter is STILL TALKING ABOUT IT to anyone who will listen.This little girl does a lot of fun stuff but boy, this UMNH spring camp really was the highlight of her year.She remembers what she learned about plants, the activities she did and the fun people she met. She loved it!

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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily & George: Emily: Probably the only things I really didn’t like was the location (a bit of a drive if you can’t carpool) and of course the parking, though they do let you park in President’s Circle…but you have to go in and get a validation to do so.
Evonne & Savannah: Savannah: It ended. {Evonne: Aaah, isn’t Savannah adorable!}
Quinn & Tate: Quinn: I was bummed the weather wasn’t very warm so they couldn’t really do any of the water things outside, but that’s definitely not UMNH’s fault. They did a fabulous job under the circumstances.
Vanessa & Abby: Vanessa: Well, honest to goodness, with how impressed we were I WILL make the drive down to UMNH. At the same time I wonder if they could have another “branch” for certain day camps in the south Salt Lake County area.

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QUESTION

Would you recommend the Utah Museum of Natural History’s spring and summer camps?

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THE SCOOP

Emily & George: Emily: For sure! I’d love to get a little group together so they could attend together. And as they get older you can do the full-day camps in the summer. I’m seriously looking forward to that! And George would recommend the camp to anyone and everyone if he were old enough to do so…
Evonne & Savannah: Evonne: Savannah talked about this for days after! She had a blast! Not only would we go again, we would refer a friend!
Quinn & Tate: Quinn: Yes, definitely!
Vanessa & Abby: Vanessa: Yes, I have referred their day camps to many friends and family and will continue to for years. I was very impressed with every single aspect of the spring and summer camps at UMNH.

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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Want to fight summer boredom & get your kids loving science? Check out @UMNH’s summer camps in #slc #utah. They’re awesome!
Evonne: Want your child to not only have a gr8 time, but learn this summer! Sign them up for @UMNH’s summer camps!!
Vanessa: @UMNH should be named the @inevergrewup #1 destination in Salt Lake. Can’t get enough of it. Sign up your kids for camps now!.

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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for the Utah Museum of Natural History’s science camps.

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The UMNH Summer Camp Sassy Scoops Promotion!
Get $25 off your first two UMNH Summer Camps this summer! When registering for camp at www.umnh.utah.edu/summer enter “SASSY” in the promotional code box.

Terms & Conditions

• Discount available on new registrations only.
• Discount cannot be combined with other offers.
• Discount available on non-member price only. UMNH Members are welcome to take advantage of the offer, but the discount is available on regular price only, representing a net $5 discount for UMNH members using the SassyScoops promotional offer.
• Discount available on camps with open registration. Cannot be applied to a new or existing wait-list reservation.
• Limit two discounts per paying adult. Can be used on two camps for one child or one camp each for two children.
• Offer valid on registrations made by July 9, 2010.

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on UMNH’s spring camps!

The Utah Museum of Natural History has quickly become a favorite for the Sassies and their families. We have featured the museum, their birthday parties  and now we are featuring their Spring & Summer Camps!

Can you tell these two little gals were beyond excited they got to try out the spring camp at the Utah Museum of Natural History?

Well, we were excited as well! We couldn’t wait to tell you all about how our kids enjoyed the spring camps at UMNH and let you know all about the upcoming summer camps.

Their Summer Camps begin TODAY Monday, June 7th, and run all the way until the week of August 9th. They have options for ages from Kintergarden up to 9th grade and you can chose to have them enrolled in half day or full day options. Every single detail you want to know is on this page of their website: http://www.umnh.utah.edu/summer

Here are just SOME of the Summer Camp Options that stood out to us and we thought out readers would enjoy as well:

• In the spirit of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, we are offering three “food and kitchen science” camps this summer
  • Countertop Chemistry for 2nd & 3rd Grade (June 28 – July 2)
  • Know Your Food for 2nd & 3rd Grade (July 6 – 9)—this course is taught by Slow Food Utah director Christi Paulson, recently nationally recognized as an educator who is using food (where it comes from, how to grow it, organic and local food production) as a way to engage kids not only in better health, but in science in general!
  • Science Chef for 4th & 5th Grade (July 12 – 16)

• Summer is also a great time get outdoors! One of the benefits of camps at UMNH is the field trips, especially for the older kids. Some camps that provide unique outdoor exploration and field trips are:
  • Great Salt Lake Field Camp for 4th & 5th Grade (June 28 – July 2)—this camp is taught in partnership with the FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake and the kids are near the lake all five days of camp. I actually have photos of past campers at the lake if you want to see them!
  • Kids in Nature with Christy Bills for 4th & 5th Grade (July 6 – 9)—Christy is the entomologist here at the Museum and loves bugs, nature, climbing around, being outdoors! She’s a mom with two girls and my kids love her. This camp is focused on letting the kids be the guides, with emphasis of helping them build their confidence and observation skills when out in nature. And with Christy, kids hike and don’t complain! Go figure!
  • Campus Explorations for 2nd & 3rd Grade (July 6 – 9 )—in this camp, kids are all over the campus and go indoors a lot but they see incredible things that most people don’t get to see. It was through this camp that my kids have been to the campus observatory, seen the amazing pipe organ at Libby Gardner Hall, and even felt the sound vibrations in the ceiling ABOVE Gardner Hall! I can find out exactly what’s planned for this year if you want to know more.

• Science Workshops for 6th – 9th grade — Face it, at this point older kids don’t want a traditional camp, but these new programs enable kids to go way beyond the science that they traditionally get in school.

Camps at UMNH provide kids with a hands-on experience in the natural world. Kids who spend multiple weeks at the museum end up with this incredible knowledge base about natural science. They also pick up some great scientific skills like observation, hypothesis and simply paying attention to what is happening around them! Spending time at UMNH can really make summer count for kids; they are having fun while learning about things like botany, water, sound and electricity, weather, motion, earth, space…you name it!

The UMNH Summer Camp Sassy Scoops Promotion: Get $25 off your first two UMNH Summer Camps this summer! When registering for camp at www.umnh.utah.edu/summer enter “SASSY” in the promotional code box.

Terms & Conditions

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We can’t wait to tell you on Wednesday what our kiddos thought of their UMNH Spring Camps. As you well know, sometimes kids are the hardest ones to win over!